[size=-1]The Star Online > Sports[/size] Wednesday June 8, 2005 [size=+2]Shuttlers to spar with opponents playing on a raised platform[/size] By LIM TEIK HUAT KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian doubles players are shorter compared to their Korean and Danish counterparts. And national chief coach Yap Kim will be introducing a new method today to prepare the players for matches against tall opponents ahead of the World Badminton Championships in August. The players will spar against opponents playing on a raised side of the court. A court has been laid at the training centre at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara with one side raised by about 10 inches. ONE STEP HIGHER: The raised badminton court which will be used by the national stadium players in training at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara from today. “It will be different from the way they normally train and we will test it out tomorrow,” said Kim Hock yesterday. The idea was brought up during the coaching and training committee meeting last week following discussions between singles coach Li Mao and Kim Hock on the different methods to get the players ready for the World Championships. “It is not just for the doubles players. This method of training will also be used for the singles players,” said Kim Hock. “Sparring against opponents playing on a higher platform should help players improve on their defence and help them sharpen their reflexes.” Undergoing such training should benefit the Malaysian doubles pairs for the world championships, which will be held in Anaheim, California, from Aug 15-21. The three men's doubles pairs for the world meet are the world number eight Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui. The singles players under Li Mao's charge are also beginning to get used to his method of multi-shuttle drills. The Chinese coach has one side of the net covered with a blanket so that the player is unable to see where the shuttlecock is coming from. The improvisation in this training method began recently and top singles player Lee Chong Wei said that he hoped it would help him react faster and improve on his speed of play.
How does the raised platform help??? I just think it's scary cuz one might fly to a bird and end up landing on the floor below and injuring oneself.
The platform will stimulate taller players of higher heights and thus shots to them will needs to be sharper and higher than usual. The platform extends well beyond the court lines and should not be a problem. The players can judge very well whether shots will be out.
hey dont forget they are pro...they are able to tell the shuttle whether is in or out before they themself falling on the floor heehee
That's a pretty interesting concept, I've never seen this before. Though I guess it really only trains one side (the "short deffenders") since otherwise, it would just make the taller people sloppy. Not to mention clearing is gonna take some getting used to if you don't want it to fly out.